San Ysidro border crossing reopened after protests forced closure

Drivers honk their horns to show support for demonstrators protesting outside the headquarters of the government-run PEMEX oil company in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

KABC

By ABC7. com staff

Sunday, January 08, 2017

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KABC) --

The southbound 5 and 805 freeways leading to the San Ysidro Port of Entry were closed again Sunday evening for about two hours because of protests in Mexico over gas prices, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Cars traveling to Mexico were diverted on the 905 Freeway to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry starting around 5:30 p.m. and the freeways began reopening around 7:30 p.m.

During the closing, the San Ysidro crossing remained open to southbound pedestrians, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The crossing stayed open to all northbound vehicles and pedestrians.

The freeways had similarly been closed for about four hours Saturday night because of protesters, from about 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

This September 2009 file photo shows the San Ysidro crossing at the San Diego-Mexico border.

The closures were prompted by protesters who had jammed the El Chaparral Port of Entry in Tijuana.

The protests are over a hike in gasoline prices of 20 percent, triggered by the end of government-regulated prices for gasoline and diesel.

While most of the protests across Mexico have been peaceful, some looting was seen earlier in the week. The Interior Department said more than 1,500 people were detained for looting or disturbances nationwide since the protests began early last week.